Giggs misses Brazil game

Giggs has been influenced by Brazil teams of the past

Wales v Brazil, Millennium Stadium, Tuesday 23 May k.o. 1930 BST

Wales star Ryan Giggs is out of Tuesday's friendly international against Brazil.

The Manchester United star had said this week how he was thrilled to have the chance of taking on his childhood heroes at the Millennium Stadium.

I saw them on TV and just remember thinking how wonderful they were

Ryan Giggs on Brazil

But the winger's longstanding hamstring problem has ruled him out of Mark Hughes' team, which will play under a closed roof at the Cardiff stadium.

Also missing will be Brazil's Romario after the striker picked up a foot injury in a league game last Sunday. Denilson has been called up in his place.

Swansea City's Roger Freestone will make his international debut for Wales in the match, as will Arsenal's Brazilian defender Silvinho.

Before the latest setback to his international career Giggs admitted that he had modelled his game on the Brazilian style, particularly focusing on the brilliance of one player, Eder.

"Brazil were my heroes as a boy. My first memories of them were watching their 1982 World Cup side," he said.

"I saw them on TV and just remember thinking how wonderful they were."

"They had one player, Eder, who played on the left and was left-footed like me. He stood out for me because he was in my position.

"His skill was wonderful, I used to try to do the things he did, and from then on I was hooked on Brazil."

A 72,000 capacity crowd in Cardiff's premier stadium is hoping for a repeat of the national side's remarkable win against the four-time world champions, back in 1991.

Wales won the game 1-0, courtesy of a strike by Dean Saunders - the veteran forward, now with Bradford, who also starts this game.

Giggs will be disappointed at missing another friendly, after he said this week there would be no greater pleasure than to play against Brazil in front of a packed Millennium Stadium.

Former Welsh international manager Terry Yorath said before the game that it was crucial for Wales to get their tactics right.

"The game plan has got to be right against the Brazilians; technically they're much better and we've only got a few players who could possibly live with them," he said.

" We decided against Brazil to not attack them until the ball came into our half and then we could have a go at them, because we needed to be collective and be together. And in the end it worked.

"Wales have got to produce and against Brazil it's a marvellous opportunity to try and do that.

"I think it's putting a bit of pressure on Ryan. But he's a lad that will go out and play to the best of his ability. And he needs players around him as well to play to the best of theirs, if Wales are going to do anything."

Teams:

Wales: Freestone, G. Roberts, Page, Melville, Delaney, M. Jones, Savage, Speed, J. Robinson, Saunders, I. Roberts. Subs: Symons, Bellamy, Barnard, Johnson, C. Robinson, Weston, M. Crossley.

Brazil: Dida, Silvinho, A. Carlos, Aldair, Cafu, Ze Roberto, Cesar Sampaio, Rivaldo, Emerson, Franca, Elber. Subs: Germano, Evanilson, Carvalho, Assuncao, Denilson.

Referee: Vitor Manuel Melo Pereira (Portugal)